A Kind Of Magic (25 page)

“I’m not so sure. All but one of the harpies is dead now.” He laughed. “Ah, but one harpy can still wipe out an entire village in a day. And a city like Houston? That could be annihilated in less than a week.” Elle shuddered. “That’s supposed to impress me? What is power when everyone is dead?”

“It’s what comes after.”

Now she was confused. “These creatures are being brought here to destroy Earth.

All of it. There won’t be an Earth to rule.” But Alex only laughed at her words. Either he was delusional, or he had been told something else entirely. And if that was the case, then who was telling the truth?

“Who told you you would have that kind of power?”

“I can’t tell,” he said and turned his back to her.

“Why? Is he afraid of me?”

Alex chuckled. “He isn’t afraid of anyone. He isn’t even from this realm.” Somehow that didn’t surprise her. “What’s his name. “ Slowly, Alex turned around to face her. “That isn’t something you need to know.”

“And what do I need to know?”

“Just what I’ve told you. Nothing more.”

Elle hated being treated like less than a human just because she was a woman.

“So,” she said with a sigh. “What do we do now?”

“That is what I would like to know,” the harpy said as she ducked and came into the cottage. “Why haven’t you killed her as you were ordered to do?”

“I have my reasons, Kaleno,” Alex said between clenched teeth.

“I do not think your master will be happy to hear you have disobeyed him.” Elle sat and listened with interest. Maybe she could turn Kaleno on her side and convince the harpy to help her.

And pigs can fly, Elle.

It was worth a shot though. She didn’t utter a sound as the two continued to bicker, though she noted that Kaleno never raised her voice or advanced on Alex. And the reason was the stone hanging around his neck. Elle’s eyes widened at seeing the stone. All she had to do was get the stone, and everything would end. Her mind began to form a plan.

Two hours later she was looking for a way to put her plan in motion. Night had begun to fall, and anxiety had set in.

“What are you doing?” she asked irritably.

“Waiting.”

She rolled her eyes. “For what?”

“A

visitor.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes on the vermin before her. “Who? Your precious master?”

This time Alex laughed, his eyes shining with an intense light that sent a warning down her spine. “Oh, not anyone as special as that,” he said.

With that, Alex turned and motioned to Kaleno who ducked out of the cottage and flew away.

Elle rushed to the window and threw open the shutters to see where the harpy was headed. Cold air rushed at her like a freight train, but she ignored it. “Where is she going?”

“On an errand,” Alex said as he pulled her away from the window and closed the shutters. He turned her toward the roaring fire. “Warm yourself.” But there would be no warmth for her ever again.

Roderick stared at his feet. His hands itched to feel his weapons and attack Alex and the last remaining harpy. He seethed as he waited, yearning to find Elle. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Elle’s bow.

His heart constricted, and the dull ache that had plagued him since she had been taken grew tenfold. He hadn’t realized until she was gone just how much he cared for her.

Hugh had asked him if it was love. At the time, Roderick hadn’t known the answer. He did now. He loved Elle Blanchard, loved her so much that he knew he would never be whole again if he didn’t save her. Even the guilt he had carried with him for decades didn’t amount to a thimble full of what he felt for his woman.

His woman.

Aye, she was his. And he would tell her just as soon as he saw her.

Roderick sat back and took a deep breath, the fire’s heat burning his cheeks. He wondered where Elle was and hoped she stayed warm.

He looked around the hall and found men inspecting weapons and readying themselves. As soon as their small group had arrived at Stone Crest, Hugh and Mina had seen to it that everyone was safe in case they were attacked.

“Not much longer I suspect,” Val said as he sharpened the blade on his halberd.

Roderick moved his gaze to Hugh who sat cleaning his crossbow.

“Aye. Anytime now,” Hugh said, never taking his eyes from his weapon.

It was nearly too much for Roderick. Never had he been so anxious for a battle, so ready to kill. But then again, no one had ever taken his woman.

Mina walked into his line of vision and regarded him. “Will you tell Elle?” she asked softly.

“Tell her what?”

“How you feel?”

He noticed Val and Hugh stop their work and look up. Roderick had never liked being the center of attention. He preferred to stay in the background.

“Aye,” he said, not recognizing the hoarseness of his voice.

“Good,” Mina said and smiled. “She deserves to know.” “Did you see your father?” Hugh asked.

Roderick shook his head and pushed back the grief that threatened to overwhelm him. “There wasn’t a chance. Aimery promised to talk to him for me. I only left because I thought there was time.”

Val held up his hand. “There’s no need to explain. We know. None of us expected the harpies to attack so soon.”

“I swore to her I wouldn’t leave.” Even now Roderick could see the disbelief in her eyes.

“She’ll understand once you explain,” Mina said.

Roderick opened his mouth to respond when they heard the harpy scream. Each of them surged to their feet and grabbed their weapons.

“Knights. Take your places,” Hugh bellowed as they rushed from the castle.

By the time they reached the bailey, the harpy had knocked down part of a wall and one tower of the gatehouse. Without thought, each raced to their places and waited.

Roderick knew it was only a matter of time before Kaleno grew tired of knocking at stones. She wanted humans to kill, and he realized there was only one way to achieve what they all wanted faster.

He stepped out from his hiding spot and slowly walked to the middle of the bailey. He didn’t try and shout to Kaleno. She would never hear him over her screams and the noise of her wings. But it didn’t take her long to spot him. She dove down and landed on her feet several feet in front of him.

“What have we here?” she asked as she looked around her. “Where did everyone go?”

“You don’t want them.”

She cackled. “Oh, but I do.”

“Well,” Roderick said with a shrug. “You only have me.” Kaleno smiled. “You’ll do.”

He waited, yet she didn’t attack, didn’t kill him.

“What are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to kill me?” She ran her hands through her long black hair. “Not yet. Master Alex wants to do the honors himself.”

Roderick seethed. “Did you bring him?”

She snorted. “Of course not. He wouldn’t dream of leaving his new prize.”

“Is that what she is to him? I thought he was supposed to kill her?”

“He will. Eventually. Right now he wants to have a little fun with her first.” It was all Roderick could do to keep a coherent thought in his brain upon hearing that. “Where is he? I’m just as anxious to fight him.” She cocked her head to the side, her black mane falling over her right shoulder.

“You won’t win.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to everyone. Why would you fight if you know you will die?”

“I don’t know that,” he said.

She lifted her head, her black eyes intent. “There are some things that are meant to be. You and she shall both die.”

Roderick refused to let her words deter him. “Everyone dies sometime.”

“True, Thalean. Everyone and everything dies. Including realms. Your realm is on the brink.”

He took a step toward Kaleno. “Where is Elle?” She blinked once. “In the glen,” she said and then flew away.

“What did she say?” Val asked as he ran up.

“Elle is in the glen.

Hugh rubbed his hands together. “Good. I’ve been itching for a fight.” Roderick wanted to go alone but knew how foolish that would be. He had no wish to see his friends in danger, but he needed all the help they could give. Though he was immortal, there was a good chance he could die, and he gladly would if it meant the survival of Elle.

He didn’t know who got his stallion for him or who placed the reins in his hand.

He secured his weapons and leapt onto the stallion’s back. With one last look at Stone Crest, Roderick kicked his horse into a gallop.

Elle.

Elle stared into the fire, remembering her time with Roderick. Her chance of survival was slim to none, yet she clung to that slim chance. She knew Roderick and the rest would come for her. It was their duty, and they held duty above all else. Yet, she didn’t want to see them die, and Alex would make sure they were all dead just for spite.

There were only two choices for her. Submit to Alex and become his sex slave, which appealed to her as much as clawing her own eyeballs out.

Or, get the necklace for herself.

She wasn’t what you would call a seductress, but it was worth a shot. After a glance in his direction near the window, she rose to her feet.

Instantly, his gaze was on her.

She kept eye contact with him, never wavering. She didn’t try to appear sexy, she decided acting herself was the best role she could play. Her feet didn’t stop until she stood in front of him. He came to his feet and looked down at her. His hand reached up and traced her jaw.

“Elle?”

“I’ve thought over your option.”

He smiled. “Ah. You mean become mine so I spare your friends?” She nodded. “Yeah. That one.”

His hand traced down her shoulder to her breast then to her waist. She repressed a shudder and stood still.

“All right,” he said. “We start now.”

She wanted to scream no, but then she didn’t have any other choice but to do as he said. He pulled her into his arms. When his lips moved to cover hers, she tilted her head so he found her neck instead.

His sloppy kisses made her skin crawl. Yet, she pushed that aside and moved her hands up over his shoulders to his neck. Her fingers brushed the clasp and yearned to grab it, but she held herself back.

It was a good thing too, because Alex straightened and pushed her back onto the table. He ran his hands down the front of her body to her thighs. If she was lucky she would come away without having to experience him taking her fully. As it was, it was everything she could do to keep the grimace from her face.

But luck wasn’t something that was usually on her side.

“Nice. Very nice,” he murmured as his hands kneaded her legs, inching closer and closer to her sex.

She opened her arms, and he eagerly fell on top of her. Her fingers threaded into his hair, keeping careful to scrape her fingernails on his scalp and neck so that when she reached for the clasp he would think nothing of it.

No matter how many times he tried to kiss her, she continued to turn her head away. She wondered how long he would allow that before he forced a kiss on her. As it was, his lips were at her jaw, working their way toward her mouth once again.

To distract him, she raised her legs and wrapped them around his waist. He groaned and thrust his rod against her. She shuddered in revulsion, but he thought it was in anticipation.

She wasn’t about to tell him differently.

While he continued to grind his pelvis against hers, she wound her fingers around the necklace as she played with his hair. Luck, it seemed, was on her side when she found the clasp at her fingers.

Ever so deftly, she began to unclasp the necklace when Alex jerked his head up and eyed her.

“Is something wrong?” she asked innocently.

He growled and backed away. Elle didn’t have time to unwind her fingers. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he reached up and jerked her hands from around his neck.

“Bitch,” he roared as he backhanded her.

Even though Elle saw the fist coming, she couldn’t move fast enough to dodge the blow, which sent her tumbling over the table to the floor on the other side. She sat dazed, as little lights flickered around her as she tried to stop the world from spinning. Her body began to shake, and a sheen of sweat covered her body. Her hand covered her cheek in an attempt to stop the pain, but there was no stopping it. It grew worse with each passing second until her stomach rolled violently and she worried that she might vomit.

“You’re pathetic,” Alex said as he yanked her up by her arm.

Elle licked her dry lips and tried to breath through her mouth to calm her racing stomach. It helped a little, but if she didn’t sit soon, nothing would help her.

He shoved her into the door as he pushed her outside. Instantly, the cold slammed against her chilling her instantly without her cloak for warmth. The only good thing about the cold was that it stopped her nausea. It didn’t take long for the chills to wrack her body again. And each time her teeth chattered it felt as if a metal fist was punching her cheek.

Oh, Roderick. I need you.

She quickly blinked away the tears that threatened. She had tried to tell herself to keep her distance, she had known their time together would be short, but it still didn’t lessen the pain.

He would come, and as much as she wanted him with her, she wished he wouldn’t. She wasn’t a fool. Alex had a plan, a plan that included both their deaths.

Alex and his master were taking no chances.

“Here she comes now,” Alex said.

Elle lifted her head to him, then shifted her gaze to where he looked. Just over the rise of the trees, she could make out Kaleno.

The harpy had returned.

Roderick stayed close to Hugh as they raced over the snow covered ground.

Thankfully, the snow had stopped falling for the time being, but it wasn’t likely to last.

His heart pounded in time with his stallion’s hooves on the earth. He couldn’t help but think that they had wasted too much time waiting instead of searching for Elle.

He lowered himself over the stallion’s neck and urged him on faster. The steed responded immediately and pulled alongside Hugh. There was a rise just up ahead, and Roderick would bet his flail that was where Alex waited for them.